BALTIMORE – Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International have resumed operations out of Baltimore's port this weekend, following the clearance of debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge that had blocked access.
Royal Caribbean led the return, with the Vision of the Seas departing on Saturday for a five-day roundtrip to Bermuda. This ship also offers nine-day cruises to Bermuda and Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Port of Baltimore director Jonathan Daniels expressed relief and gratitude as operations resumed. "We've been working through this process for the last two months," Daniels stated at the cruise terminal. "Just a week ago, this terminal was being utilized as an incident command post. In one week, it's been transformed back to starting out that guest experience."
Carnival Cruise Line followed with the Carnival Pride embarking on a 14-day roundtrip journey to Greenland on Sunday. This voyage is set to be the first in a series of seven-day Caribbean itineraries.
The operations of both cruise lines had been relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, since March 26, when a shipping vessel struck a key support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse and resulting in the deaths of six construction workers. The port remained inaccessible until the debris was cleared, marking a significant recovery milestone for Baltimore's cruising industry.
